<*>[Attachment(s) from James KB7TBT included below]

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2045, January 6, 2017

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2045 with a release date of Friday,
January 6, 2017 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The International Space Station finds help for its
VHF radio crisis. American Indians get on the air for their first-ever Net --
and are you ready for Winter Field Day? All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report 2045 comes your way right now.
	
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BILLBOARD CART

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GENEROSITY'S IN ORBIT WITH THE ISS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: We open this week's report with an encouraging outlook for
the International Space Station and its VHF radio crisis. Here's Amateur
Radio Newsline's Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

NEIL:  As we reported earlier on Amateur Radio Newsline, plans have been
under way to replace the VHF radio aboard the International Space Station
which failed this past October. The Ericsson VHF handheld that has called the
Columbus module home for 17 years came up with an error code as astronaut
Kate Rubins, KG5FYJ, was preparing for a contact with a school in Nebraska. 
She was able to complete the contact by using a radio in one of the Russian
modules in the station.  As a result of this radio's failure, hams all over
the planet no longer have the capability of APRS and digipeating on VHF
through the space station.   A UHF radio is operating, but contacts are much
more difficult due to Doppler shift.

JVC Kenwood graciously donated a TM-D710GA mobile, dual band radio.
Modifications have been made, and a special power supply prototype has been
built to facilitate using the radio in both US and Russian modules of the
space station.  Production and certification are the next steps, which costs
an estimated $200,000.

So now not only are the school contacts adversely affected, but every ham who
enjoys the digital communications bouncing off the station on VHF has lost
that capability.  This makes the urgency for donations to the cause to be
even more intense.

Some local clubs have stepped in to help, such as my home club, the
Bloomington Amateur Radio Club in Bloomington, Indiana.  Rosalie White,
K1STO, the ARISS International Secretary-Treasurer and also a member of the
club, explains:

ROSALIE:  The Bloomington Amateur Radio Club, voted to donate $100 to ARISS,
and a club officer quickly matched that with his own check, as did 2 other
club members...and my own mother!!  Several members contributed other amounts
to equal $200. I told them they made me want to cry happy tears!"

NEIL: And on December 28, the Quarter Century Wireless Association made a
sizeable donation to the cause.  Ken Oelke, VE6AFO, QCWA President, hopes the
funding will be a catalyst for individuals and other groups around the globe
to follow suit and donate to the radio system cause.  He said, "I truly
believe this is a great opportunity for the QCWA to shine in the Amateur
Radio Community, and to carry out QCWA's mandate as described in its
constitution." Rosalie tells us about another happy donor.

ROSALIE: Dana Harding, VA6DJH, said "I'm happy to help support ARISS's new
radio effort.  The whole thing is so cool--who else gets to sit in their
living room and just decide to call up the space station...and then have it
answer?! With ARISS, I can reach out and touch the ISS!"

NEIL: Individuals and groups interested in helping to make the ARISS hardware
reach the ISS can go to the AMSAT Website, www.amsat.org, and give a
tax-deductible donation by clicking the ARISS Donate button.  Donors giving
$100 or more are awarded with a beautiful ARISS Challenge Coin.  Those
wishing to make a much more substantial contribution should contact Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, at ka3hdo@verizon.net.

Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

**

HAMS ASSIST AT HINDU GATHERING

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In India, amateur radio operators are about to take on a
special role during a Hindu pilgrimmage, as we learn from Amateur Radio
Newsline's John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN: As Hindu pilgrims gather beginning January 13th to take a holy dip in
the River Ganga in West Bengal, India, amateur radio operators are being
asked to stand by. The hams, members of the West Bengal Radio Club, have been
asked to be available to help locate anyone who goes missing at the
gathering, known as the Ganga Sagar Mela.

Ambarish Nag Biswas VU2JFA, secretary of the club, said the amateurs will
work with district police, local agencies and non-governmental organizations
and information will be shared among them through a central website.
Officials told the Indian Express newspaper that every year people go missing
at the festival, which constitutes the world's second-largest congregation of
people. One official said hams were brought in to assist with making key
connections using photographs of anyone missing and being able to network
over radio, to contact families.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

**

BACK TO SCHOOL AT HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY

SKEETER/ANCHOR: No one gets a degree from from this university but there are
plenty of hams excited about class being in session on Sunday, January 8th in
Bethpage, New York. The 18th annual Ham Radio University will feature a full
day of sharing ideas, knowledge and fellowship among amateur operators. If
you can't get to the Briarcliffe College campus, be sure to work Special
Event Station W2HRU. The station went on the air on Jan. 1 and will be
operating through Jan. 8 on 40 and 20 meters. On the day of the event,
operations will also be on PSK31 on 20 meters. Of course, if you are there in
person, there'll be 30 forums to attend and the ARRL's Chief Executive
Officer Tom Gallagher NY2RF will give the keynote speech.

For more details visit hamradiouniversity.org


(HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY)

**

NEW LF FREQUENCY EYED FOR FRENCH LICENSEES

SKEETER/ANCHOR: There's a vacancy on the bands at 162 kHz and some amateurs
in France are looking to fill it. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot G4NJH
has more.

JEREMY: If you're a licensed amateur in France and eager to get on the air at
162 kHz, you have until January 16th to let the CSA, the French Superior
Council of Audio-visual, know you support its use as an amateur frequency.

Radio France, the public radio broadcaster, ceased operations on the
frequency at the end of 2016 and the CSA is seeking expressions of interest
for another radio service there. The frequency had been in use by France
Inter, one of the public broadcaster's channels. The discontinued service had
been announced as a cost-saving measure.

Their departure from the frequency created an opportunity for hams and the
CSA will be seeking input during the first half of January about amateur use.
Again, you have until January 16th to let them know.

Visit the authority's website at www.csa.fr where there is a link to download
details about expressing interest.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE ARC)

**

AUSTRALIAN HAMS AWAIT 60 METER BAND

SKEETER/ANCHOR:  In Australia there is going to be a new band at 60 meters
but when? Hear these details from Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: No matter where in the world you're listening to Amateur Radio
Newsline, if you've been waiting to get a contact on 60 meters to VK land,
you need to wait just a little bit longer. Although the updated Australian
Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan was planned to take effect on January 1st, the
5.3 MHz band is not yet ready for prime time. Administrative and regulatory
details need to be brought up to date before the new spectrum plan can kick
in. The International Telecommunications Union has already approved the
worldwide allocation on a secondary basis for amateurs, for the band between
5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz.

There are still details to be ironed out. So be patient. Our regulatory body,
the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has many "T"s to cross and
many "i"s to dot before we can begin to QSO with the world on the new 60
meter amateur band at 5.3 Megs. 	

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(WIA)


**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station.  We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the W9YPC repeater serving Markham, Illinois.

**

AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES HOST FIRST NET

SKEETER/ANCHOR: American Indian tribes now have their own Net. If you want to
join them, listen to this report from Amateur Radio Newsline's Paul Braun
WD9GCO.

PAUL: There is a new HF activity starting this weekend, and it's hosted by a
very special organization. The National Tribal Amateur Radio Association will
hold the first of what they hope are many more nets this Saturday, January
7th, at 0100 UTC on 3925 MHz to start.

I spoke with Association president Nathan Nixon, N7NAN about their plans:

NIXON: What we're starting is our first HF net that we hope to use to not
only kinda bring people together but also to put out information as to what's
going on out there in Indian country, ways that people can help. You know,
through National Tribal we've never said "no" to anybody joining and it's
open to everybody so ultimately we just want to get the word out there that
hey, most everybody, regardless of where you live in the US, either has
tribal nations within their state or if you're in a state like Arizona where
I'm at we've got 22 of them. And they're close - there may be community
members who are ham radio operators you may not be aware of, but every tribal
community I've been out to absolutely loves what amateur radio is and what
it's all about so I'm hoping with this net we can move forwards from once a
month to twice a month and kinda spread the word about Indian country and
bring folks together and go from there.

PAUL:NTARA's membership is growing. According to Nixon.....

NIXON: ....As of January 1, we are sitting right at 482 across the U.S.
That's all 50 states. Out of those 482, we've got 21 of the 567 recognized
tribal nations represented.

PAUL: The mission of the net will evolve over time, according to Nixon:

NIXON: So the first one is more just to - actually, the first couple - will
be more to test the waters and see, you know, which band, what time, that
sort of stuff works for everybody else.  I'm hoping that by April or May that
we'll have a list of people who check in on a regular basis so we'll do
check-ins and then with some of the resources that I have it's mainly to
share information as to what's going on out there. So if I know that the
Navajo Nation has a big fair going on or something like that I'll put that
out there for people. Either that, or there's like emergency communications
events that Indian Country's doing or anything like that, that's what we're
going to start putting out there after I'd say probably the third net after
we get our feet wet and kind of figure out which band's going to work the
best.

PAUL: Nixon said that while the first net will be on 75 meters, they are also
going to try one on 40 and one on 20 to see what works best for most hams.

You can learn more about the Association and follow the progress of the net
by joining the Facebook page - just search for National Tribal Amateur Radio
Association or look for them on Twitter under @NatlTribalHams. They have a
QRZ page under W7NTV.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO

**

AMATEUR RADIO SISTERHOOD HONORS COFOUNDER

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The Sisterhood of Amateur Radio has honored one of their own:
a founding mother of the group. We hear details from Amateur Radio Newsline's
Geri Goodrich KF5KRN.

GERI: Elizabeth Bigley KD7RIN has been honored by the group she helped
create. Elizabeth, who cofounded the Sisterhood of Amateur Radio in Nevada,
has become a recipient of its 2016 Legacy Award. The honors were conferred on
her during the group's holiday luncheon in Henderson, Nevada, on December 17.

Elizabeth has been a part of SOAR leadership since it first came into being
in July 2009. She is also president of the group's Las Vegas chapter.

The Legacy Award honors women who have contributed to supporting the female
involvement in the advancement and continuation of amateur radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Geri Goodrich KF5KRN.

(SOAR, SOUTHGATE ARC)


**
CANADA CELEBRATES COMING OF AGE IN BATTLE

SKEETER: Ham radio will help mark another 100th anniversary this year - the
Battle of Vimy Ridge. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jason Daniels VK2LAW has the
details:

JASON: The Battle of Vimy Ridge, 100 years ago, is often called a defining
moment for Canada. Though soldiers paid a terrible price with their lives,
the Canadian World War One victory in France in 1917 is said to mark the
birth of Canada as a nation.

Special Event Station VE100VIMY will be calling throughout each of Canada's
13 call areas from now through March 30th. All of this will culminate in the
actual battle commemoration in April with stations located at the Vimy
Memorial site in France, operating around the clock.

The special event was organized by the Vimy Commemorative Station Society in
British Columbia. For details visit www.ve100vimy.ca.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW

SKEETER/ANCHOR: By the way, Canadians are also celebrating another milestone:
it's been 150 years since Canada was formed out of the union of the British
colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Canada. Instead of lighting
candles, however, the Yukon Canam Contest Club VY1AAA is using the special
call XK150YUKON now through March 1 to mark the occasion. Then, from March
through year's end, listen for the station as either CI1AAA or VY1AAA. Send
QSLs via KC1CWF. All contacts will be confirmed on LOTW.

Meanwhile, Canadian amateurs also get a birthday gift - the chance to use
special call sign prefixes of CF, CG, CH or CI to celebrate this year.
	
**
THE WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, Stan, K5GO, will be active as ZF9CW from Cayman Brac
Island between January 22nd and February 23rd. He will be operating as well
during the CQWW 160m CW contest on January 29th through January 31st. Listen
for him also during the ARRL DX CW Contest on February 18th and 19th. Send
QSLs via his home callsign direct.

Listen for Mike/W1USN and Bob/AA1M who will be active as HP/W1USN and
HP/AA1M, respectively, from Panama between February 10th and February 22nd.
They'll be on various HF bands using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. Send QSL
cards to Mike via W1USN direct or LoTW. Send QSL cards to Bob via AA1M direct
or LoTW.

Erwin, PY2QI, will be active as PY2QI/PY0F from Fernando de Noronha Island
(SA-003) between February 15 to February 21st. He will be on 40-10 meters
including the 30/17/12m bands using CW only. Send QSL cards via his home
callsign direct.

**

KICKER: U.S. WINTER FIELD DAY IS HOT, HOT, HOT!

SKEETER/ANCHOR: And finally, Newsline asks: When is it too cold for Field Day
in the U.S.? Never, if you ask this hardy bunch, as Amateur Radio Newsline's
Neil Rapp explains, in our final report for this week.

NEIL: Bundle up! You may not think that Field Day in the middle of winter is
a good idea, but 10 years after the first one was held - in January 2007 -
more and more amateurs in the U.S. are warming to the idea, joining hams in
Australia and the UK in this practice. In the States, Winter Field Day 2017
begins on Saturday January 28 at 1900 UTC and runs through Sunday January 29
at the same time. It's happening on all bands and in all modes except the
WARC bands.

So what's the point of it? As the Winter Field Day website itself notes,
disasters - like the weather - cannot always be predicted accurately and
having a Field Day such as this one, in more challenging weather conditions,
is good preparation for the real thing when it happens.

For this Winter Field Day, guidelines allow solo operators, pairs and teams
and can be done as an outing, a remote location, or even from home - although
there are bonus points for outdoor and remote operation with a noncommercial
power source. There will also be at least one bonus station.

The exchange has changed from last year, however, so please visit the website
at winterfieldday.com to get the specifics before getting on the air and
calling "CQ WFD."

Just be sure to leave your flipflops and your beverage cooler at home --
unless the winter weather turns TRULY unpredictable!

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG

(WINTER FIELD DAY ASSOCIATION)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; CNN; Hap
Holly and the Rain Report; Ham Radio University; the National Tribal Amateur
Radio Association; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted
Randall's QSO Radio Show; Sisterhood of Amateur Radio; The Vimy Commemorative
Station Society; Winter Field Day Association; WTWW Shortwave; and you our
listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Please send emails to
our address at newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at
Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.

For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York, and our
news team worldwide, I'm Skeeter Nash N5ASH in Topeka Kansas saying 73 and as
always we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.


***

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